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I used an inflatable pool of water,
as well as my birthing ball, shower, walking, staying well rested, nourished & hydrated, and relaxing at my own leisurely
pace in my own home, as my choice of "pain reliever".
I can honestly say that while I did have
my usual back labor and mind-bending transition, I got through it very well because everything was on my terms and I was not
being observed, manipulated or interfered with in any way, shape or form. For me, that really seemed to make all the
difference in the world.
~Carrie
UC Board CL
Here is what I have done...
My births are very long, and very hard, possibly because
of some health problems I've had in the past. However, I can birth just fine, it just hurts more than it probably should.
My sister, who is even littler than me, has painless births, without any special preparation or anything. She walks a lot
in labor. It just doesn't hurt for her. Pain relief isn't always needed, and it's best to approach this subject with an open
mind, and without fear. Even if it does hurt, it doesn't last forever, and you get a wonderful prize at the end.
I
highly recommend Penny Simkin's "The Birth Partner" (or something like that, maybe it's labor partner...). We have a well
worn copy of it in our bathroom right next to the tub that we birth in. Counter pressure (explained in the book) can do amazing
things during back labor, better than an epidural in my experience. I also recommend walking, dancing, and lots of water.
I can't say enough about water birth, it was so wonderful for us.
Kiley
UC Board CL
As with most homebirths, chemical
means of pain relief aren't used. Basically listening to your body's urgings on how to move/what position to be in, are a
good means of "natural" pain relief. Water (whether in the form of a shower/tub/pool) is also an effective means of pain relief
for some women. Breathing, singing softly, moaning, dancing, walking, massage, and relaxation techniques all are also good
forms of "natural" pain relief. Listen to your body and do what it asks of you.
karly
Walking, water, whatever position is helpful. Some feel better if they are vocal.
My best suggestion is nice warm water. Maybe some relaxation tea. That's about it.
Tina
Mom to Quentin 3/4/97, Ashton 6/23/99, Owen 4/11/01 first UC, due again May
Birth does not have to be painful. Preparing yourself during pregnancy to not be afraid of your
body, to trust in it, and in birth, will help alleviate pain during the birth, as pain is often caused by fear (though sometimes
that fear is well buried in the mother's mind, so she may not be aware of it). If you do feel discomfort during the birth,
changing positions (to what feels RIGHT, not to some preconceived notion of what one "should" do), warm water showers or baths,
massage, vocalizing, dancing, drinking plenty of water (dehydration will cause your muscles to work inefficiently, and that
will cause pain), making love, masturbating, sleeping, walking, taking deep slow breaths, focusing inwards (pay attention
to what your body is doing, and think of what you are accomplishing-- a little baby is about to emerge!), pretty much anything
that feels good to you, will help.
Some births will take longer than others, but just because it is taking longer
than you expected, does not always mean that there is something wrong. Listen to your intuition, talk to your baby-- find
out why you are feeling pain, and ask yourself whether there is something you can do to change that, rather than going to
the hospital and going down the slippery slope of interventions...
Beatrice-- mama to Max (6, CNM hospital birth),
William (4, LM home waterbirth), Dora (2, family UC), Wee One (in belly, arriving late-Winter, UC)
*Bee's Official
Disclaimer: All of my answers express my own personal opinion, and as I am not a trained birth professional, but better, an
experienced mother, none of it ought to be construed as medical advice.*
Who needs pain relief?
I've already had 2 homebirths, although I had a midwife present.
Labor pains, though intense, are very different from mundane pains. Even paper cuts are more distressing, because
they are a sign that something is wrong. Labor pains are a sign that something wonderful is about to happen. Some women don't
feel pain during childbirth. However, that has not been my experience.
I enter another world when I'm in labor- I'm
in touch with my mom birthing me, my prior births, and out of touch with my own surroundings. At the same time, the pain keeps
me very much in the present, I can't daydream about my fantasy birth like I can do at other points of the pregnancy.
I've
heard described "contractions so intense you can't walk through them." I've never had that- only contractions too intense
to sit still for. Too intense to talk through I've had. I paced around the house, naked, in active labor for both my girls.
I couldn't even imagine laboring in the car on the way to a hospital or birthing center, and certainly can't imagine being
confined to a fetal monitor or an IV. I'm not surprised women scream for an epidural under those conditions. I was never able
to sit still for contractions until I was ready to push.
Then I get to be fully aware when my new baby is there. No
drugged feeling. Just this incredible birth high. I'm able to walk to the bathroom because my legs have not been numbed. I
couldn't imagine birthing any other way.
Ruth
This was my least painful birth yet!
It would not be accurate to say that this birth was
completely painless, but it came close. I'd been having painful braxton-hicks contractions for over a month. The BH contrax
would last for several minutes at a time. The morning labor started, the contractions were more intense (read painful), and
I KNEW it was the real thing. But they were shorter, and I had no discomfort between them. It was less painful, overall, than
dealing with the achiness I'd had all month. I walked, did deep yoga-type breathing, and/or sat on the toilet during contractions.
There were a few, near the end, that didn't hurt at all. I didn't even need to vocalize until right before I started pushing
and during pushing itself. I never felt a "ring of fire" when he crowned- that phrase is too intense to describe the discomfort
I felt. I simply pushed with it and felt relief.
However, I can imagine wanting an epidural if I'd been forced to
sit still for a monitor, or lie back for an internal exam, or in some other way be poked and prodded during labor. With UC,
there is simply no need for pain relief.
Ruth
I tried the bradley method... which was good in the beginning, but the laying down bothered me too
badly. Getting on my hands & knees helped so much. It really didn't hurt when I was on my hands & knees. Like everyone
else said, listen to your body & it won't steer you wrong :)
Aubrey
Another choice - Hypnosis for childbirth...
I know many people think that using hypnosis
will take you away from your birthing experience, but that's not true. It simply takes away the pain and fear; you are completely
awake and aware throughout, feeling everything except discomfort.
I'm glad that there are women whose labor pain was
not overwhelming or excruciating for them. Many others have not been so fortunate and benefit greatly from having an unmedicated
birth experience using hypnosis. I am in awe as I see so many of my HypnoBirthing students, many giving birth at home, have
gentle, peaceful and comfortable births. I think it only adds to the joy and pleasure of homebirth, and empowers women so
that they can enter their labors with confidence and trust. It is worth looking into, in my opinion.
:-) Kerry
HypnoBabies
A birth pool!
posterior positioning is not fun...
I find that for me pain is greatly amplified by the
anxiety caused by vaginal checks, obsessive timing of contractions, inhibition, disappointment over failed expectations, lack
of sleep, perineal massage, laboring and birthing on back, disrespectful treatment by attendants, forced pushing, castor oil,
and coaching, among other kinds of interference. When I eliminate these things, the pain is for the most also eliminated.
I say "for the most part," because even though I was largely successful in keeping my last birth as unhindered as
possible, I did have about an hour of back labor that was pretty bad. Though I labored in the water and had pressure on my
back, by far what helped most in dealing with it was vocalizing and moving around a lot.
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